Week 3: HIV Flashcards
1
Q
HIV classification
A
- Baltimore Class 6 - RNA genome -> DNA -> RNA
- A lentivirus, with “lenti” = Slow acting, which is classified as a retrovirus
- retrovirus genomes can be simple opr complex
2
Q
HIV faxx
A
- Transmitted by blood-blood transfer
- Takes ~8 rs for an HIV infection to become pathological
- Currently still no vaccine, patients are most likely to succumb to opportunistic infections
- Most patients don’t survive more than 2yrs after AIDs onset
3
Q
Characterisation of HIV genome
A
- ~9.2kb long, with large open reading frames for gag, pol + env
- 4 accessory genes to aid in infection efficiency:
+ vif
+ vpr
+ vpu
+ nef - tat + rev are essential viral proteins involved in control of gene expression
- Interacting with Tar-Tar improves the quality of transcripts with more full-length transcripts
4
Q
vif accessory gene
A
Allows binding to APOBEC3B
5
Q
vpr accessory gene
A
Cell cycle blocker, primarily blocks G + M phases
6
Q
vpu accessory gene
A
Tetherin antagonist
7
Q
nef accessory protein
A
Pathogenicity factor
8
Q
Role of Rev + RRE
A
- If Rev is absent, transcript processing is generally slower
- Together they maximise the transcript processing and allow full transcripts of the gene products to be produced + at a faster speed
